Kearse, Rutledge Testify Against Agent

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, January 14, 2002

NFL players Jevon Kearse and Johnny Rutledge testified Tuesday that while in college agent William "Tank" Black gave them thousands of dollars so they would sign with Black's company after turning pro.

"I was a recipient of periodic cash payments from Tank Black," said Kearse, a star defensive lineman with the Tennessee Titans.

Black is being tried in federal court on charges that he stole millions from the college football players he represented. If convicted, the 42-year-old Black he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Sanford has estimated the total amount of money missing ranges between $12 million and $14 million.

The players did not testify Tuesday how much money _ if any _ they lost to Black.

But Rutledge acknowledged it was difficult to testify against Black "because Tank was the guy who guys put their trust, put their faith in, then turned around and stabbed them in the back.

"Tank was a guy I trusted like a father," Rutledge said

Rutledge estimated that while still enrolled in college, he received as much as $15,000 from Black and his assistant, Alfred "Tweet" Twitty in 1997 and 1998.

"On occasion, I would get more," said Rutledge, a linebacker with the Arizona Cardinals. "For instance, Christmas and my birthday, I would get $1,000 cash."

Testified Kearse: "In March of 1998, he gave my mom $1,200 cash to purchase a vehicle."

University of Florida officials said they knew nothing of Black's involvement with its players. The school could face NCAA sanctions if prosecutors prove the university knew Black paid players.

Kearse and Rutledge said Black enticed them into signing with his company, Professional Management Inc., by giving them up to $500 a month, plus other gifts.

During the players' testimony, Twitty was described as Black's bagman. Kearse said he only communicated with Twitty, not Black, when he needed money.

Rutledge testified he was introduced to Black through former Gators running back Fred Taylor.

Taylor is reported to have lost the most to Black, including a $3 million signing bonus and an additional $380,000 he received from the Jacksonville Jaguars for meeting performance goals.

Under cross-examination, Kearse admitted he had asked for the money.

Black's attorney, John Uman, said: "You knew you were going to make money, you were going to make millions."

Kearse shyly replied: "Yeah."

Kearse said his contract with the Titans included a $4.6 million signing bonus, with an annual salary up to $500,000.

Last June, a federal judge in Detroit sentenced Black to 82 months in a federal prison for a money laundering charge stemming from a drug operation. Black pleaded guilty and received more than the maximum of 78 months that was cited in his plea agreement, reports show.

The sentencing guidelines in that case were increased because Black allegedly provided false statements to officers and gave false testimony to a federal grand jury before entering his plea.